I have two events coming up in Bengaluru this week - a book launch tomorrow, and a reading workshop on Saturday. I hope to see you there! Book Launch at Atta Galatta, Koramangala, Bengaluru Date: 9th March 2017 Time: 5:30 pm Open to all! Reading Workshop at Kids Collective, Jayanagar, Bengaluru Date: 11th March 2017 Time: 11 am to 1 pm Age-group: 8-12 Workshop fee: Rs 500 per child … [Read more...]
Storytelling Workshop at Palm Groves
A group of parents got together and invited me to conduct a weeklong storytelling workshop at a housing society. Storytelling has never been more fun! Working with my own stories is a lovely experience in itself, and when the story comes with its own kit ... The enjoyment reaches new levels!Here's a group of children putting together the jigsaw puzzle of Bholu at the Level Crossing ...It was such fun telling this story, with the children making the same sounds that Chitra makes in the book, imitating the train - Poooonnnn! Chug-chug-chug-chug, chug-chug-chug-chug. One observant child commented that the red Swift in the picture had to be an old one because there was no reversing camera!And here's another picture of all the children busily colouring the sketches that are part of the third kit, the one for Bholu at the School Excursion ...This one was fun because we … [Read more...]
A Brand New Series of Books on Trains: Coming Soon!
Do you know who Bholu is? Since 2002, this friendly guard elephant has been the mascot of the Indian Railways. I'm delighted to be writing a series of stories for children, featuring Bholu, along with many other characters.The series will target two age-groups: Younger readers (aged 5-8) Older readers (aged 9-13)The books for younger readers will have Bholu at the forefront; the ones for older readers will be adventure stories -- all set in and around the Indian Railways.Coming soon - both in print at the National Rail Museum, Delhi, and as ebooks! … [Read more...]
The Story-Catcher – Kindle Edition!
After three years of good old paperback sales, we now have an e-book! For all those who said you did not buy the hard copy, here's your chance! … [Read more...]
Christmas Reading
Fills my heart with joy ... … [Read more...]
The Story-Catcher in Gangtok
Ebbani from Rey Valley International School was the first to arrive. "Thirteen more children are coming," she informed me.I was anxious, anxious enough to have considered (night before last) cancelling the whole thing. I had never dealt with such young children before, and the children from Rey Valley who were coming to Rachna Books were children from LKG, UKG, and Grade I.Finally, I loved how everything turned out. There were thirteen children in all, not the 14 that Ebbani expected, and each of them was special. I feel like such a foreigner; I remember so few of the names! Even so, I see their bright faces, looking up at me. I see how they respond to the cover of The Story-Catcher. I can see them imagining with me, contributing to my stories. And my heart warms.The entire concept of bringing children to a bookstore is charming. Every year, Rey Valley brings its children to the … [Read more...]
Day Two: Storytelling Workshop
We read aloud, acted, spoke, coloured, stamped and drew. I heard two stories about a zoo, and we read a lovely story about two rabbits and a fairy princess. What a feast of stories it was! The three-day storytelling workshop had: 1. Tikki tikki tembo 2. The Witch and her Two Daughters (adapted from two folktales by Varsha Seshan) 3. The Three Engines 4. The Hunter and his Five Sons 5. The Little Corner Shop (by Varsha Seshan) 6. The Fox and the Farm (by Varsha Seshan) 7. The Lady of the Lake (loosely based on a traditional tale) 8. A Bear that Growls (loosely based on a traditional tale)Coming up:Vocabulary Workshop Dates: Today and tomorrow, 27th and 28th August, 2014 Venue: Friends Library, Salunke Vihar Road Time: 4 pm to 5:30 pm Age-group: 8-12 Fee: Rs 350 … [Read more...]
Day One: Storytelling Workshop
Children aged between five and eight are such an enthusiastic and energetic bunch! I enjoyed myself thoroughly telling them three more stories, one of which was "The Little Corner Shop" from The Story-Catcher. It is so heartwarming when children fall in love with a story that is your own!Coming up:Storytelling Workshop - Day Two Date: Today, 26th August, 2014 Venue: Friends Library, Salunke Vihar Road Time: 11 am to noon Age-group: 5-8 Fee: Rs 350Vocabulary Workshop Date: 27th and 28th August, 2014 Venue: Friends Library, Salunke Vihar Road Time: 4 pm to 5:30 pm Age-group: 8-12 Fee: Rs 350 … [Read more...]
Photographs from Yesterday’s Workshops
Sunday morning saw the end of my two-day workshop, Weekend with Words, at JustBooks Aundh. With Word Search, Word-Building and Word Train, we came to the end of a fun workshop!At the British Library, we had a day based on Roald Dahl!Today, we have: Storytelling Workshop Time: 11 am to noon Age-group: 5-8 Venue: Friends Library, Salunke Vihar Road Registration Fee: Rs. 350 … [Read more...]
Storytelling Workshop
Important updateThe timing of my storytelling workshop has changed from evening to morning, thanks to the rain we have every evening. Here are the details once more:Dates: 25th and 26th August, 2014 Time: 11 am to noonAge-group: 5-8 years Venue: Friends Library, Salunke Vihar Road, Pune Registration fee: Rs 350Sorry for the inconvenience! … [Read more...]